Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-06
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1881.
Texas On Prohibition.

Texas On Prohibition.
One of the most interesting phases
o our later politics is the election
which took place in Texas the other
day, on the question of inserting into
the Constitution of that State a pro-
vision prohibiting the manufacture or
sale of alcoholic and other intoxicating
beverages. If our recollection serves
us right, what is known as "loeal OPP
ton" is feature in Texas. The
question thus arose on a very bigoted
and tyrannical issue. Many of those
who do not agree with the cause OF
prohibition have a profound respect
for the honest opinions of prohibi-
tionists. An immense number of peo-
pie in this country, though drinking
me themselves, are really devoted
to temperance, in the true sense OF the
word. As a general thing, it may be
said that the people Of any given
country will consume the products
for which nature evidently marks the
region out. Thus, in the Bourdeau
district of France, the people drink
their thin, light and highly wholesome
wines. In the heavy climate of the
North German ocean and in the
British Isles, strong whiskies, ,brandies,
gins and ales are the vogue. In the
United States there has been
a good deal of hodge-podge. In Ken
lucky and Pennsylvania they make
and drink whiskies. Our own State
is distinctively marked out as q vine
and barley region, and our specialties
will be wines and beers, with the re-
suit that, in the future, this will be a
highly sober community quite i'm
portant thing, considering that Cali
fornia will have quite five million |
people thirty years hence, and will, in |
addition, probably be selling thirty |
dollars worth of wine yearly to |
the people Of the East by that time.
The position of Texas, however, is
peculiar. There is nothing |
in it's special products that would in
dicate its habitudes as to the question |
of the manufacture and consumption |
of beverages which are generally |
grouped as Intoxicating. The local
option feature had gained such head
way that the election was watched
with great interest by everyone.
From the time of Noah to that of the
heavy muscled people that gathered
. round Troy, and since, the great
mass of healthy men have been
in the habit of looking upon the
wine when it is red, when it NOV
eth itself Alright and sparkleth in
she glass, without much regard to
ts occasional adder proclivities and
he concomitant of redness of eyes of
he consumer who has sat up too late.
The Texas of twenty years ago would
nave been the most unlikely field i'm
lginable for the prohibitionist, and
he election of the other day shows
hat it is still, as whole, devoted to
,ersonal liberty. No doubt very
factor in the contest was a
etter written by Mr.. Jefferson Davis,
md which, by the way, was pervaded
~ remarkable degree of common
ense. Mr.. Davis opposed the prohi-
,ition crusade on the ground that the
world was governed too much. 1t
would be hard to put the matter more I
happily. Sumptuary laws have never c
ret accomplished much good. There l
> in them such an invasion of the !
lights of the citizen as results in their
Ultimate repeal or modification. t
When even temperate man is told a
hat he shall not take drink he is {
pit to tackle schooner OF beer to vim
Iicate his manhood, Repressive leg
Station is boomerang. striking ex-
implication of this fast was chronicled
a Kansas. In that State law was
assed prohibiting the manufacture
nd importation OF any kind Of in !,
Dxicants. Even the wine used in the !,
service was interdicted.
his legislation was so wide reaching !
nd proscriptive that the Supreme :
onrt Of Kansas declared the consti-
ltional amendment invalid on a
lere informality in the manner of its f.
and the people of Kansas y
,e next year elected a Democratic II
overnor, to the surprise of all the O
orld and the rest of mankind. h
sxas having pronounced her will so O
we now look for the {,
peal OF the prohibition law Of Il
eorgia. @
prnu pa one of the most amusing